About Home Theater Sound:

Why should someone contemplate the purchase of a "high quality" two channel audio  system for $2000, $4000, or $5000 dollars etc. when they can purchase a complete home theater sound system for the same price?

Sound makes up better than half the information you receive from a DVD movie or Television program. Watch a subtitled movie with the sound off-and you will understand, it's not just what they are saying, but how they say it, and the sounds that surround them. The sound must integrate with the video on an emotional level and the sound itself is a wide range of material from music, to dialog , street sounds and ultimately car bombs. To choose a system fully capable of producing the dynamics of planes crashing into the side of mountains as well as the subtle nuances of a woman whispering the language of love into a child’s ear requires a quality system. Given this task, we believe a system needs to play music very well or as someone said, “If the system plays music right, it will play noise”.

Given that most of us listen every day to car radios, 2" TV speakers, clock radios, iPod headsets, we may believe that the best sound we can obtain for our TV is from a well advertised manufacturer, whose testimonials state that 'It's light years better than TV sound...' Actually, we believe that that claim is true, just that for the same amount of money, you can get much, much better sound.

In relating this concept of a high performance system to your question, we believe the goal of a “home theater audio system” is not the issue of whether it is two channel or 5.1, the issue is quality sound reproduction. Going back to the manufacturer mentioned above- what they are selling isn't 5.1 or 7.1 sound, it's 3.1-3 program speakers and a sub woofer.

What they are selling is called a 'soundstage' effect. The soundstage is the feeling that you are in the first or second row of a concert or film. The sound should envelope you and feel like it and you are present at a live event- not distant, detached, cocooned in your living room. this is an effect that a good stereo amplifier and speakers can easily reproduce.

To add to a commercial receiver/amplifier 5 additional channels, a network card, remote control, network interface software, tuner, HD tuner, satellite radio tuner, and operational software to 'mimic' effects begins to eat into the quality of the most basic component - the amplifier, pre amplifier stages. Especially if you design the system to make a 'price point' for consumers, i.e. under $2999, under $1999, or under $999.

Soon, the additional features drive the sale of the system and not the original purpose of the unit-to accurately reproduce and amplify music.

The physical effect:  Before watching a demo of a home theater, we have watched TV for years with built in 2 inch speakers. Your introduction to home theater is a turned up system playing some action movie or cartoon.

The only reaction out of your jello reduced body is a squeaky voice saying, “wrap it up, I wanna take this home”.  However, audiophiles listening to top flight sound systems are not making the light speed jump from 2 inch speakers to home theater surround systems, because they know that the depth of field and sound quality is not there.

In this respect, their knowledge and experience of sound, even at high volumes do not engender the initial physical impact you initially have. They are more critical of the operating characteristics of a surround sound system.

The naturalness of the sound: I think that many audiophiles do not enjoy the presentation of the sound by most surround sound systems.

This becomes more apparent on a music video than a movie. First, there is a low end that is pumping out at a 16dB elevated level, making a kettle drum equivalent to the start signal for Armageddon. Second, the placement of the sound, such that the chorus or the lead guitar are coming out of the back speakers while the musicians are in front of you on the TV screen appears out of place. (There is a Peter Gabriel concert video that gets this right-placing the audience in the rear speakers- but even that sounds better with only 2 fronts)

It's your choice- More Gallo Hearty Burgundy is sold every year than California, French or Australian estate wines. More 5 speaker systems with sub-woofer and amplifier surround sound systems (for under $1000) will be sold this year than all output of all the tube amp manufacturers.